How effective are the messages that YOU leave for your prospects? Your prospects form an opinion about you and your company every time you contact them. In fact, the messages you leave on their voicemail or e-mail may be a determining factor in their decision to call you back and consider doing business with you. So make a good impression! Login to admin
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How effective are the messages that YOU leave for your prospects? Your prospects form an opinion about you and your company every time you contact them. In fact, the messages you leave on their voicemail or e-mail may be a determining factor in their decision to call you back and consider doing business with you. So make a good impression!
The Voicemail Message
Recently, I had the experience of shopping for a car. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the pleasure of buying one. Although I knew the exact car I wanted and was ready to buy, not one car salesperson was willing to give me any personal attention.
To begin, I followed a “get a quote” tool that was available online and filled in exactly what I wanted in my next car: the type, the color, the features, and even additional comments. I couldn’t have made it much easier for a car salesperson to sell me a car that I already knew I wanted.
With the five requests that I sent online to different car dealerships in my area, I received five phone calls within 12 hours of my request. All of them went directly to my voicemail.
Here is the basic script to four of the messages I received:
“Hello, this is (insert name of salesperson) calling from (insert name of car dealership). Please call me back at (insert telephone number that I have yet to call).
BOOORING! And talk about impersonal! Did they even read my request? Do they even know what kind of car I am interested in?
When a prospect goes out of their way to contact you in regards to a sale, the last thing you want to do is leave them an impersonal or automated message!
Sabtu, 08 November 2008
Strategis your busines
• Your Sales Plan: You cannot hit a target that you cannot see, so why would you step out of your door without a plan? Many average and less-than-average salespeople do every day, and then wonder why their sales are flat. A sales plan is a tool that is indispensable to the superior salesperson. An effective sales plan is, in reality, an extension of goal setting. You can develop your plan using a word processor, but a spreadsheet allows much greater flexibility and practicality. Take time to identify your target markets and target customers. Learn as much as possible about each. Identify your competitors. Honestly assess your company's strengths and weaknesses in light of the marketplace and competition. Develop your strategy. Take action and regularly gauge your progress and adjust your plan.
• CRM: Customer resource management has been a tool in development for a number of years. There are a number of quality products available depending upon company structure and individual needs. Among these are ACT, Goldmine, Outlook, etc. Choose one that meets your needs and start using it. Keep accurate and updated records. The best time to make new entries is every day. If you get behind, you may decide that the catch-up task is insurmountable and quit altogether. Don't do it. Superior salespeople keep their contact manager updated with several backups. Once your data is entered, you can merge data with sales letters, print labels, develop email campaigns, and so much more.
• Laptop / PDA: Your carefully manicured data and customer records are of little value to you in the field if you do not have it with you when you need it. In addition to customer records, I keep all price sheets, quote forms, catalogs, brochures and more on my laptop, available for my use at any time. My equipment features built-in wireless networking capability so that I can log onto the internet or send and receive emails from an increasing number of hot-spots in most areas. These devices are no longer simple name and address managers, but rather your mobile office and window to the world!
• Flash Drive: A flash drive is a small electronic device housing a memory chip for the purpose of storing data in a manner similar to that of a hard drive on your computer. The price of high capacity flash drives for your key chain has fallen to levels affordable by almost anyone. My 1 GB flash drive was just $59 at Sam's wholesale club! I also use one on my desk computer in place of a floppy or backup tape drive to save backups and conveniently trade data with my laptop. It is impractical to carry into a customers' office all of the catalogs or literature that you may require for the visit, but located on my keychain flash drive is every catalog and brochure that our company uses, just waiting to be placed in my customers' USB port for easy transfer directly to his computer. Easy indeed! As common as these devices are, my customers continue to be impressed when I pull out my flash drive.
• Mobile Phone: Almost every man, woman and child carries a phone these days. My only comment is to select a model that has the features you need to meet the demands of your job. Do you need email capability, a camera or other features?
• Web Presence: Promote your company's web site to each customer. Get them involved in what your company is all about. If your company does not yet have a web site, consider establishing your own web page to promote you. It's easy and very inexpensive to do, and will prove quite cost effective.
This is certainly not an all-inclusive list of tools available to salespersons, but these represent important and essential elements contributing to the success of superior salespeople. Do you want to be average? Do you want to continue to meander? If your desire is to continuously improve and employ every asset at your disposal to become a superior salesperson, enjoying superior sales and income, then do as the superior salesperson does. Become an expert in the use of tools of the sales trade and get busy.
• CRM: Customer resource management has been a tool in development for a number of years. There are a number of quality products available depending upon company structure and individual needs. Among these are ACT, Goldmine, Outlook, etc. Choose one that meets your needs and start using it. Keep accurate and updated records. The best time to make new entries is every day. If you get behind, you may decide that the catch-up task is insurmountable and quit altogether. Don't do it. Superior salespeople keep their contact manager updated with several backups. Once your data is entered, you can merge data with sales letters, print labels, develop email campaigns, and so much more.
• Laptop / PDA: Your carefully manicured data and customer records are of little value to you in the field if you do not have it with you when you need it. In addition to customer records, I keep all price sheets, quote forms, catalogs, brochures and more on my laptop, available for my use at any time. My equipment features built-in wireless networking capability so that I can log onto the internet or send and receive emails from an increasing number of hot-spots in most areas. These devices are no longer simple name and address managers, but rather your mobile office and window to the world!
• Flash Drive: A flash drive is a small electronic device housing a memory chip for the purpose of storing data in a manner similar to that of a hard drive on your computer. The price of high capacity flash drives for your key chain has fallen to levels affordable by almost anyone. My 1 GB flash drive was just $59 at Sam's wholesale club! I also use one on my desk computer in place of a floppy or backup tape drive to save backups and conveniently trade data with my laptop. It is impractical to carry into a customers' office all of the catalogs or literature that you may require for the visit, but located on my keychain flash drive is every catalog and brochure that our company uses, just waiting to be placed in my customers' USB port for easy transfer directly to his computer. Easy indeed! As common as these devices are, my customers continue to be impressed when I pull out my flash drive.
• Mobile Phone: Almost every man, woman and child carries a phone these days. My only comment is to select a model that has the features you need to meet the demands of your job. Do you need email capability, a camera or other features?
• Web Presence: Promote your company's web site to each customer. Get them involved in what your company is all about. If your company does not yet have a web site, consider establishing your own web page to promote you. It's easy and very inexpensive to do, and will prove quite cost effective.
This is certainly not an all-inclusive list of tools available to salespersons, but these represent important and essential elements contributing to the success of superior salespeople. Do you want to be average? Do you want to continue to meander? If your desire is to continuously improve and employ every asset at your disposal to become a superior salesperson, enjoying superior sales and income, then do as the superior salesperson does. Become an expert in the use of tools of the sales trade and get busy.
Superior salespeople
Superior salespeople are always interested in maximizing their time and effectiveness in front of the customer. Superior salespersons will develop tools and systems that will aid them in their time management and sales effectiveness. Average salespersons tend to meander, wandering to the next call without any real purpose. They appear busy, but their inconsistent results leave a great deal to be desired. Which best describes you? Login to admin
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A carpenter has his saw and hammer. A writer has his pen and ink. A doctor has her medical instruments. An accountant has his calculator. A mechanic has his wrenches. What of the salesperson? What are the available tools for salespeople?
Salespersons exist in almost every industry, for without the sales channel, there is no reason to manufacture or produce anything. We salespeople produce the results that drive every other function in every company. Although the function of each salesperson is the same, that is to match customer needs to products and services and close each sale, the manner in which we operate varies depending upon the industry we serve. Realtors, bankers, industrial reps, retailers and others have a variety of practices that they have found to be effective. There are sales tools commonly available to all of them to utilize.
Superior salespeople are always interested in maximizing their time and effectiveness in front of the customer. Superior salespersons will develop tools and systems that will aid them in their time management and sales effectiveness. Average salespersons tend to meander, wandering to the next call without any real purpose. They appear busy, but their inconsistent results leave a great deal to be desired. They are often disorganized, keeping poor records and avoid using tools to their advantage.
What are some of the tools and systems of effective, superior salespeople? We will discuss a few tools of the trade that are used successfully by me and others with great success.
area to modify this.
A carpenter has his saw and hammer. A writer has his pen and ink. A doctor has her medical instruments. An accountant has his calculator. A mechanic has his wrenches. What of the salesperson? What are the available tools for salespeople?
Salespersons exist in almost every industry, for without the sales channel, there is no reason to manufacture or produce anything. We salespeople produce the results that drive every other function in every company. Although the function of each salesperson is the same, that is to match customer needs to products and services and close each sale, the manner in which we operate varies depending upon the industry we serve. Realtors, bankers, industrial reps, retailers and others have a variety of practices that they have found to be effective. There are sales tools commonly available to all of them to utilize.
Superior salespeople are always interested in maximizing their time and effectiveness in front of the customer. Superior salespersons will develop tools and systems that will aid them in their time management and sales effectiveness. Average salespersons tend to meander, wandering to the next call without any real purpose. They appear busy, but their inconsistent results leave a great deal to be desired. They are often disorganized, keeping poor records and avoid using tools to their advantage.
What are some of the tools and systems of effective, superior salespeople? We will discuss a few tools of the trade that are used successfully by me and others with great success.
It is often seen as an epic struggle
It is often seen as an epic struggle...you versus the gatekeeper...winner take all! It doesn't have to be that way. Try these tips to create a relationship that allows everyone involved to get what they want. Login to admin
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I hear it every day…”I can’t seem to get past the gatekeeper. If I could just get through to the decision maker, I know I could make the sale.” It’s a common issue with sales professionals, but I will contend that much of it is self- inflicted. Too many sales people treat the gatekeeper as an adversary, one who must be conquered if indeed we are to get through to that all-important decision-maker.
Let’s get one thing straight immediately. The gatekeeper is only performing his job just as you are performing yours. Why does there need to be a battle…a winner and a loser? Why not create a situation where everyone wins?
Begin by smiling, and showing that you sincerely appreciate their position and their job. Consider yourself in their position. Respect them as people and as professionals. You will stand out from others who treat them as the enemy whose only purpose is to prevent them from getting through to see the decision maker.
Ask for their help. Our natural tendency as human beings is to help when asked. This also shows that you respect him and that you realize that he has something to offer you.
Find out his name and use it! This is one of the most overlooked and simple ways to reach anyone.
Ask them if there is anything you can do for THEM! This is one that will put you ahead of 99.9% of the people who walk through the door or call them on the phone.
Above all, be sincere. It will show and it will earn you respect and a trip in to see the one who makes the purchase decisions.
If you approach the situation knowing that you and your product are relevant and worthy of the decision-maker’s time and when you do get through, every one will be a winner. You, because you will now get through. The decision-maker, because she will now have the opportunity to consider a product or service that will benefit her company. The gatekeeper, because his boss will recognize his discretion in letting only those with beneficial products and services through to her.
area to modify this.
I hear it every day…”I can’t seem to get past the gatekeeper. If I could just get through to the decision maker, I know I could make the sale.” It’s a common issue with sales professionals, but I will contend that much of it is self- inflicted. Too many sales people treat the gatekeeper as an adversary, one who must be conquered if indeed we are to get through to that all-important decision-maker.
Let’s get one thing straight immediately. The gatekeeper is only performing his job just as you are performing yours. Why does there need to be a battle…a winner and a loser? Why not create a situation where everyone wins?
Begin by smiling, and showing that you sincerely appreciate their position and their job. Consider yourself in their position. Respect them as people and as professionals. You will stand out from others who treat them as the enemy whose only purpose is to prevent them from getting through to see the decision maker.
Ask for their help. Our natural tendency as human beings is to help when asked. This also shows that you respect him and that you realize that he has something to offer you.
Find out his name and use it! This is one of the most overlooked and simple ways to reach anyone.
Ask them if there is anything you can do for THEM! This is one that will put you ahead of 99.9% of the people who walk through the door or call them on the phone.
Above all, be sincere. It will show and it will earn you respect and a trip in to see the one who makes the purchase decisions.
If you approach the situation knowing that you and your product are relevant and worthy of the decision-maker’s time and when you do get through, every one will be a winner. You, because you will now get through. The decision-maker, because she will now have the opportunity to consider a product or service that will benefit her company. The gatekeeper, because his boss will recognize his discretion in letting only those with beneficial products and services through to her.
Systemizing the sales process
Systemizing the sales process from the first contact throughout the relationship increases the probability of making the sale while decreasing the impact of competition. Login to admin
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The woman walked into a photography studio and inquired whether a photographer would come to their home to take family photos in front of the fireplace. The receptionist nicely told her that they would do that, gave the prospective customer a brochure and price list for “on-location photo shoots” then took down the woman’s contact information, including her email address, which was added to the “prospect” database.
That’s it, a seamless front-end and constant follow-up system. It starts with a “Thank you for inquiring” note and is followed with a series of newsletters, coupons, announcements of open houses, and seasonal offerings like Valentine, Halloween, and other holiday promotions.
Did the woman become a customer? I don’t know since the incident occurred just last week, but I can assure you that, if the woman compared other photo studios to this photographer’s systemized approach to answering the inquiry, this photographer would be heads and shoulders above in comparatives like professionalism, preparedness, showing interest in the prospect, and appearance of quality. Over time, after she receives a number of communications and promotions, the woman will have to be impressed even more.
It is a fact that most businesses do not systemize either the sales process or the follow-up process very well, if at all. Yet, for many products or services, the purchasing decision is not impulsive. It is often a “kicking the tires” methodical accumulation of knowledge about options and various choices available - comparing one prospective vendor or product against another. The longer the decision-making process for a given vendor or product, the more a follow-up program will differentiate your company or your product / service versus your competitor in converting the prospect into a customer.
As a personal example, my mother just moved into a retirement community in Illinois. She had been doing research by “kicking the tires” of these communities for at least five years. When she made the decision to make this big move, her choice was easy because of the sales and follow-up system of her chosen new home.
area to modify this.
The woman walked into a photography studio and inquired whether a photographer would come to their home to take family photos in front of the fireplace. The receptionist nicely told her that they would do that, gave the prospective customer a brochure and price list for “on-location photo shoots” then took down the woman’s contact information, including her email address, which was added to the “prospect” database.
That’s it, a seamless front-end and constant follow-up system. It starts with a “Thank you for inquiring” note and is followed with a series of newsletters, coupons, announcements of open houses, and seasonal offerings like Valentine, Halloween, and other holiday promotions.
Did the woman become a customer? I don’t know since the incident occurred just last week, but I can assure you that, if the woman compared other photo studios to this photographer’s systemized approach to answering the inquiry, this photographer would be heads and shoulders above in comparatives like professionalism, preparedness, showing interest in the prospect, and appearance of quality. Over time, after she receives a number of communications and promotions, the woman will have to be impressed even more.
It is a fact that most businesses do not systemize either the sales process or the follow-up process very well, if at all. Yet, for many products or services, the purchasing decision is not impulsive. It is often a “kicking the tires” methodical accumulation of knowledge about options and various choices available - comparing one prospective vendor or product against another. The longer the decision-making process for a given vendor or product, the more a follow-up program will differentiate your company or your product / service versus your competitor in converting the prospect into a customer.
As a personal example, my mother just moved into a retirement community in Illinois. She had been doing research by “kicking the tires” of these communities for at least five years. When she made the decision to make this big move, her choice was easy because of the sales and follow-up system of her chosen new home.
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